with return to class

End-of-year external NCEA school examinations would be a thing of the past if Carmel College principal Christine Allen had her way.

The snapshot judgment is “no longer ft for purpose”, she told the Observer.

It was an opinion Allen said she held before the Government’s decision last week to race senior students back to class from Tuesday this week – ahead of national exams set to start from November 18.

Many in the education sector were blindsided by the sudden decision, made at a time when the Delta outbreak is growing in Auckland. Some had been advocating exams be moved online.

Takapuna Grammar School opted to keep its doors closed this week, with students doing their mock online exams from home as planned.

Westlake GIrls High School has made in-person attendance optional. On Monday it made Tuesday a teacher only day. Year 11, 12 and 13s coming to school were told to attend on staggered days from Wednesday onwards. The school cited dealing with the speed of changes as its reason.

Rosmini College headmaster Nixon Cooper said the school normally held its mock exams at the start of Term 4, but when term start was delayed in early October teachers had instead used this time to gather specifc evidence for grades to deal with whatever unfolded.

“The announcement of a return to school on Tuesday was a complete surprise,” he said.

Other schools were also gearing up to do more work on internal assessments, while playing wait and see over NCEA.

Carmel’s Allen said she had spent “considerable time” trying to address parents’ very real concerns about reopening. A parent survey had indicated a full turn-out was unlikely.

Until the announcement, schools were

School staf vaccinations tracking well

North Shore high schools appear well on the way to meeting government requirements for teachers and support staff to be fully vaccinated.

“At this stage, it appears the overwhelming majority of staff are double or single vaccinated,” said Westlake Girls High principal Jane Stanley. She was confdent of full compliance to meet the January 1 deadline and did not envisage retention issues.

Rosmini College was “completely confdent” it would comply with the requirement in time, said headmaster Nixon Cooper.

Westlake Boy High School preferred not to get into specifcs at this stage.

Carmel is still gathering vaccination data, but says vaccination uptake rates to date were very positive. Principal Christine Allen said: “I don’t think this will have any real impact on retention or recruitment.”

Asked about collating detail of student vaccination as has been signalled ahead, Allen said: “We are yet to begin this mammoth task.”

only open to young students who had no one to supervise them at home, she said. “Then, suddenly, large numbers of seniors are allowed and all the bubbles of 10 requirements and no mixing are all removed.”

With NCEA being a fexible system there was a range of ways to gather evidence learning, including issuing Unexpected Event grades. This came without the need to sit external exams in person. Like other principals, Allen says the uncertainties of this interrupted year have put added stress on students. They have been studying from home for a cumulative two months plus, frst in February, then again from 17 August onward.

“We’ve really focused on our Y13 students and their ability to make sure that they have the best results that they can achieve to undertake the next stages in their careers.”

Once the dust settles, Allen believes a national educational review is needed into whether timed, external assessments are a fair and valid form of assessing students’ learning and understanding of content. “I think that external exams are no longer a ft in this more modern learning environment.”

Westlake Girls High School cancelled its mock exams early, at the end of Term 3. Principal Jane Stanley said the delayed start to Term 4 had not been unexpected, although it was disappointing for girls missing friends and teachers. “We are well prepared as a school for any outcome that may transpire over the next few weeks – including NCEA exam preparation, or collection of alternative evidence if exams do not proceed,” she said before news of schools’ resumption. Westlake Boys High School, principal David Ferguson said: “We’re looking forward to returning to school as and when we are able to.” Stanley said most students had taken the disruptions in their stride. Parents had helped keep their children engaged. Those who were struggling were given extra help. The school had been waiting for government mandates around reopening, she said. “The wellbeing of our students is obviously our top priority and we will do whatever is needed to ensure our staff and students are kept safe.”

Sea ‘rescue’ in choppy seas of Milford set nerves on edge

Rescue training exercises off Milford Beach had residents fearing they were seeing a real life emergency last weekend.

The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter was doing winch training in blustery conditions early on Saturday afternoon. This sparked concern in the community, including a number of people posting online on local pages that they feared they might be witnessing a boat having got into trouble with potential loss of life.

Observer enquiries established that what had occured was known as “wets and decks” training.

A rescue helicopter spokesman said this training involved both the helicopter and other emergency personnel aboard the Coastguard Lion Foundation rescue boat.

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High fve... Rosara Davis and Issy Riley give a socially distanced salute during kayak practice on Takapuna Beach

Paddling against the tide of being inside

Forrest Hill 11-year-old Lucas Gilberd relished the chance to kayak off Takapuna Beach last week. He was one of a group of local children enjoying getting outdoors for a different kind of lesson during lockdown.

“I just play basketball at my house and do school work,” he told the Observer.

Issy Riley, aged 10, from Stanley Bay, said she too was enjoying a change in routine. “It’s nice to be out on the water.”

Rosara Davis, a 13-year-old student at Belmont Intermediate, agreed that it was “pretty good to be doing something”.

Rosara’s father was along as a parent helper supervising out on the water, at the lesson coached by another father, Scott Orman, just out from the Takapuna Boating Club.

Under Alert Level 3 regulations, competent individuals or small organised groups that maintain social distancing are allowed on the water, to kayak, canoe, row, surf, wind-surf or paddle board, near to shore.

Making the most of Takapuna Beach as a safe venue for this, several groups from outside the area were also on the beach last week, including swimmers from West Auckland and members of the Piha Surf Lifesaving Club, who regularly train in the calmer eastern waters.

Beach patrols started at some beaches last Saturday, 23 October.

Poised for action... Lucas Gilberd was eager to hit the water for a fresh challenge

Uncertainty a killer for business Simon Watts

Businesses are crying out for more certainty and for more people to get their second vaccines, says Takapuna’s business leader Terence Harpur.

Retail fgures for the September quarter, showed overall spending in Takapuna was just a ffth of what it was in the 2020 quarter.

“This is no surprise as we have few essential services in Takapuna, no offce workers and the majority of businesses are closed,” said Harpur, chief executive of the Takapuna Beach Business Association. “For business heavily affected, the issues are cash fow, spiralling debt and lack of a plan of how long this will go on for. It’s a matter of how deep in debt do you go before calling it quits and closing the business.”

Grim retail spend figures were set to continue, he said, despite the too long complacent Government having fnally come up with a pathway away from lockdown. This offered some light at the end of the tunnel, but without a reopening date it was diffcult for businesses to plan fnancially and for their employees wellbeing.

“We need everyone double dose vaccinated ASAP if we want our town centres and local businesses to survive.”

Harpur welcomed increased frequency in resurgence support payments, but wanted this and the wage subsidy to run for longer.

Auckland Council could also do more to help hospitality businesses, he said. Cutting complaince fees that might be $3000 or more for a small cafe would help. He acknowledged that the council had cut shop fees for outdoor eating, but he said this should be extended for the whole of summer and to those dining with alcohol.

This would help make summer shine.

MP for North Shore

National Party Spokesperson for ACC, Associate Health & Associate Revenue Your local MP, supporting you and our community

1 Earnoch Avenue, Takapuna northshore@parliament.govt.nz 09 486 0005 simonwattsmp

Authorised by Simon Watts MP, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.